Program: Health and Physical Activity - Exercise Science, BS - University of Pittsburgh

Health and Physical Activity

The baccalaureate program in health and physical activity leads to the BS degree and provides specializations in exercise science and wellness. The exercise science specialization is offered for students interested in the study of human movement, independent of its implications for teaching physical education in traditional elementary and secondary school settings. Students are prepared for careers as health-related physical fitness specialists interested in working with adult populations in community, corporate, and private fitness centers. Also, this specialization provides basic academic and clinical studies for students wishing to pursue graduate work in exercise science.

The wellness specialization is offered for undergraduates interested in corporate wellness, exercise leadership and programming, public health, and coordination of health-fitness and wellness programs. Students are provided the opportunity for professional focus in one of four areas: aquatics, fitness, aerobics, or aerobics/fitness. This specialization provides appropriate mechanisms to meet the criteria for various professional certifications in this fastgrowing and competitive field. The wellness specialization provides basic academic and clinical studies for students wishing to pursue graduate work in physical activity or the public health domain.

Exercise Science Curriculum

All students in exercise science complete 50-52 credits of courses in liberal arts and sciences, distributed as follows:

Communication skills (9 credits)
Quantitative reasoning (6-7 credits)
Humanities (9 credits)
Sciences (17-18 credits)
History, social science, and public policy issues (9 credits)

In addition, all students in exercise science complete the following core of 67-75 credits:

Biophysical foundations (19 credits)
Behavioral and sociocultural foundations (3 credits)
Research methods and practicum (3-5 credits)
Health and wellness foundations (7-9 credits)
Natural Science Electives (14-16 credits)
Exercise Science Foundations (22-23 credits)

This degree requires a clinical/field experience and a directed research and/or health and fitness practicum. These requirements are completed under the direct supervision of a faculty member and may occur in a variety of settings (e.g., health clubs and hospitals).